Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the report by Trussell entitled Routes out of Hardship, what effective employment support looks like for people facing hunger, published on 26 October 2026.

We are committed to tackling poverty and ending dependency on emergency food parcels. To support this ambition, the Government has taken significant action to help families experiencing hunger and hardship, including removing the two-child limit, introducing the Fair Repayment Rate, delivering above-inflation increases to Universal Credit, establishing the Crisis and Resilience Fund, and implementing wider reforms to housing and employment rights.

The report by Trussel raises a number of themes relevant to the Government's wider programme of employment support reform, including personalised support and helping people overcome barriers to work. Through Jobcentre Plus and contracted provision, we are working to ensure that support is tailored to individual circumstances, helps people move into sustainable employment that reflects their skills and experience, and recognises the additional barriers faced by groups such as disabled people, carers and young people. Work coaches also have the freedom to provide additional support through the Flexible Support Fund to help with interviews or starting work.